Flying-machine.



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WILLARD IRVING TWOMBLY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO TWO-MBLY MOTORS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLYING-MACHINE.

To all whom z'tmay concern I Be it, known that I, WILLARD IRVING TwoMBLY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines and particularly to'aeroplanes, and it is the object of the invention to provide means inherent to the machine to maintain longitudinal stability thereof when propelled at a predetermined rate of speed, and to permit of the controlling of the descending and ascending movements of the machine as the speed and air pressures are decreased and increased, said means being adjustable to adapt it to different rates of speed of the machine. With this object in view I provide a horizontal rudder, which may be in the nature of an auxiliary supporting plane, resilient'or elastic means being connected to said rudder the tensionof which means tends to pull said rudder downward. However, the air'pressures against said rudder as the machine is propelled counterbalances the tension of the elastic means maintaining the rudder substantially. in a horizontal plane or at a positive angle of incidence and the machine on an even horizontal course. As the speed of the machine-is reduced the air pressure on the rudder will be decreased, the tension of the elastic means overcoming the air pressure on the 'rudder drawing down the rear end and increasing theangle of incidence of said rudder causing the machine to descend, and as the speed of the machine increases the air pressure on the rudder will increase raising the end of the rudder against the tension of the elastic means until the 'rudder assumes an angle of incidence.substantiallythe same as the supporting surface when the machineis maintained on an even horizontal course, To adapt the rudder to difierentrates of speed the elastic means is adjustable to increase or decrease the tension thereof.

In the drawing accompanyingandformi'ngfia part of this specification, .Figure 1. is

a side elevation of an aeroplane of the mono Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 2 5, 1913. Saris-1N0. 756,825.

plane type with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view looking at the bottomof my improved means to maintain longitudinal stability; and Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating a modification of the elastic means. 7 I

Similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout the different views of the drawing.

In the drawing I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in connection with an aeroplane of the monoplane type, consisting of a fuselage of approved construc-- tion (designated in a general way by A), supporting surfaces or planes 3 having a positive angle of incidence being secured to and projecting laterally from the fuselage near the forward end, said planes being adapted to be warped, or provided with ailerons, to maintain lateral stability and operable in any approved manner.

The machine is driven by a propeller 5 at the forward end actuated by a suitable motor (not shown). When in normal position of rest on the ground or in alighting it is supported at the forward end on a transversely extending resilient member having wheels 6 at its ends, and a skid '7 supporting the rear end, said skid and a skid or skids 8 connected to the transverse resilient member engaging with the ground in alighting serving as a'brake to retard the forwardmovementof the machine. To steer the machine to the right or left I provide a vertical rudder 9.

To automatically control the vertical movements of the machine I provide a horizontal'rudder 10 pivotally supported adjacent the rear end of the fuselage. 'While I have shown this rudder in the nature of an auxiliary supportingsurface or plane tobe rate of speed, and to control the descending and ascending movements of the machine may consist of a coil spring or springs 12,

(Fig. 3,) said strands connected at one end tothe plane '10 and at the other end to a transverse bar 13, a control wire 14 being connected at one end to said bar and at the I,

other end to a rotatable drum or shaft 15. To increase or decrease the tension of the elastic means, the strands are drawn taut or permitted to contract, which is accomplished by winding upon or unwinding the control wire from the shaft or drum 15, for which purpose the shaft is provided with means to impart rotary movement thereto, and in the present instance shown as consisting of a lever 16 having a pawl and ratchet, connection with the shaft 15,'means being provided to lock the pawl in engagement with the ratchet and thereby the shaft in its adiusted position, and having means to quickly release the pawl to permit'the quick release of the control wire 14: and the consequent contraction of the elastic means. A releasable backcheck pawl 17 prevents accidental reverse rotation of the shaft:

The tension of the elastic means is such that when the machine is traveling at a certain rate of speed the'pressure of the air currents against the plane-10 will overcome the tension of the elastic strands so that the plane will-assume a horizontal position or be ata positive angle of incidence substantially the same as the supporting surfaces. In'normal position when beginning flight the elastic strands are in their contracted position with the result that as the machine travels through the air the pressure of the air currents will maintain the plane 10 in a substantially horizontal position. Assuming the machine to be traveling at the rate of seventy-five miles an hour and it is desired to utilize the auxiliary supporting surface 10 to automatically maintain longitudinal stability. ,The wire is wound uponthe shaft 15 drawing the elastic strands taut and thereby exerting a downward pull upon the plane 10. However, the pressure of the air currents on the plane with the machine traveling at this rate of speed willbe of such force as to counterbalance the tension of the elastic strands and raise the rear end of the rudder and maintain it substantially in a horizontal planeor at a positive angle of incidence and thereby maintain the machineupon an even horizontal course. Should the speed of the machine be reduced the pressure of the air currents on the rudder will be decreased with the result that the tension of the elastic means will overcome the force of the air pressure on the rudder drawing down the rear end and-cause the machine to descend,

and as the speed of the machine is again increased, due to the momentum of the descending movement thereof, the pressure of the air currents on the plane will again be increased raising the end of the rudder against the tension of the elastic means with the result that the machine will again assume a horizontal course. It will be readily understood that by winding the wire 14 to a greater or less extent around the shaft or drum will serve to adjust the tension of the elastic means and adapt the rudder-to different rates of speed.

As stated the rudder 10 is in the nature of an auxiliarysupporting plane, and means provided which may consist of the usual elevator, to manually controlthe vertical movements of the machine,-or to control the machine against the action of the plane 10 when it is found necessary to secure a quick longitudinal tilting of the machine for balancing or otherwise as longitudinal sta bility is threatened and instant action must betaken to prevent accident, and to main-- tain control should the plane 10 become inoperative from any cause; or the plane 10 may be adapted for vertical steering.

Variations may be resorted to within the 'scope ofmy invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: W g Y e 1.- In an aeroplane, the combination with the supporting surface, of a pivotally supported auxiliary supporting surface; a series of resilient strands connected atone end to said auxiliary surface; a rotatable" drum; and means to connect the other ends of said strands to the drum, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination with the supporting surface. of a pivotally sunporte d horizontal rudder; a series of resilient strands connected to. said rudder; and

adjustable means to increase or decrease the tension of said strands, comprising a bar to which the strands are connected, a rotatable drum, a wire connected at one end to said.

bar and at the other end to the drum; and means to rotate thedrum. 1

3. In an aeroplane, the combination with an elongated framework having a supporting surface forwardly thereon. of a horizontal rudder pivotally supported at the rear of said framework; a series of resilient strands connected at one end to said rudder: a trans verse bar to which the other ends of the strandsare connectedi a rotatable drum; a wire connected to said transverse bar and drum; a lever; and a pawl and ratchet mechanismto connect the lever to the drum. substantially as and for-the purpose specified.

4. In an aeroplane, the "combination with an elongated framework having a supporting surface forwardly thereon, of a horizontal rudder pivotally supported at the rear of said framework; a series of resilient ate the rudder, substantially as and for the strands connected at one end to said rudder; purpose specified.

a rotatable drum means to connect the other ends of the strands to said drum; a lever WILLARD IRVING TWOMBLY' and ratchet mechanism connected to said Witnesses:

drum to rotate the same to increase or de- LAURA E. SMITH, crease the tension of the strands or to actu- J. O. SEIFERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

